The dispute over the use of the word ‘Allah’ is poisoning our fledging inter-religious harmony and fracturing the fabric of our plural society.

In the face of the unrelenting dispute a voice of reason among us has called for all citizens to respect, honour and abide by the guarantee of religious freedom as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and which was agreed to when Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to form Malaysia.

In April 2011 the Federal Cabinet issued a ‘Ten Point Solution to address the Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia Bible and other related issues’. The Ten Point Solution was signed by the Prime Minister himself. The first two points being:

Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia
These Bibles can also be printed locally in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. This is a new development which should be welcome by the Christian groups.
How JAIS had the audacity to do what it did to the Bible Society Malaysia which resulted in the arrest of its two officials, seizure of 320 copies of Al-Kitab and 10 copies of Bup Kudus is shocking.

If an action assumes such arrogance that violates the Federal Constitution and pays total disregard to the Prime Minister’s directive is not treason, I do not know what is.

I would urge that in our handling of such a sensitive issue, it is imperative that we exercise maximum restraint and without undue prejudice. Our action will either convict or commend us before men and God. JAIS has much to answer for its action.

Chairman

Association of Churches in Sarawak